Hayes model new ground on Burton Albion's Pirelli Stadium

May 26 2010 By Paul Warburton

HAYES & Yeading United are set to model their new 6,000-capacity stadium on League Two Burton Albion’s ground – and the opening date could be as early as August 2011.

A fact-finding mission from H&Y’s administration has already given the Pirelli Stadium a once over in order to collect ideas for an intended move to the former Yeading FC’s Warren ground, two miles down the road from their current Church Road set-up.

General manager Derrick Matthews was confident the economic crisis that brought sale negotiations to a skidding halt was a thing of the past, and the Blue Square Premier team could look forward to a new stadium – not a million miles in look and design from the Staffordshire team promoted to the Football League two seasons ago.

He said: “We need to move to the new stadium as soon as possible. I think we’ll play one more season at Church Road, and then make the change.

“From our point of view things are moving forward, and we’ve taken ideas on board from a number of places, with Burton’s ground springing to mind, as well as the set-up at Rushden’s Nene Park.”

United hope the sale of Church Road to property developers Barratt Homes will not only finance the amalgamated club’s new start – but back other projects that build a fan base as well as making seven-day use of the facility.

United joined forces with Yeading at the end of the 2007-07 season after both club’s finances reached a parlous state.

The Warren is still used for a host of non-league games as well H&Y reserve and youth matches – and although the freehold is owned by London Borough of Hillingdon and rented back to H&Y on a long lease – the council is understood to have given its blessing to the project that sees the Hayes part of the equation move to their first new ground in 91 years.